Osama`s burial at sea offended Muslims: Geelani

Srinagar: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who Friday led the funeral prayers for Osama bin Laden, said Muslim sensibilities throughout the world have been hurt by the US decision to bury the slain al Qaeda leader at sea.

Geelani led the `Gaibana Nimaz-e-Jinaza` or `funeral prayer in absence` in the Batmaloo area of summer capital Srinagar while Shabir Ahmad Shah, another senior separatist leader and chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party, led the prayers in Sarai Bala area.

Both places are close to the civil secretariat here from where the state government functions during the summer months.

"Muslim sensibilities have been hurt throughout the world by the American decision to bury Osama at sea. It is in deference to the anger and hurt expressed by Muslim scholars throughout the world over Osama`s sea burial that we offered his funeral prayers in absence today," Geelani said.

He also said that Pakistan, which is the only Muslim country possessing the nuclear bomb, is today surrounded by dangerous forces.

"We all pray for the safety, prosperity and peace in Pakistan," Geelani told the gathering after Friday prayers.

Police exercised restrain while dealing with the angry protesters, using mild baton charge to disperse them.

Geelani has been the only separatist leader in the valley to come out strongly against the US for Osama`s killing.

"He died a martyr who fought the US oppression in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya," Geelani said immediately after the news report of Osama`s killing in a US operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Despite official apprehension, Kashmir remained peaceful in the wake of Osama`s killing. The Kashmiris mostly preferred not to discuss the issue in public.